What engines are considered traditional emgines? The flatheads I'm sure along with the y-blocks, nailheads, old hemis.What about the 283s and 327s. Anything before a certain year? A newbie just wanting to know what to look for before I start on 32 p/u. Thanks
On the Hamb, anything pre-64. It depends on the style youre building you p/u in, if youre building a 40s styled dry lakes car, dont put a hemi in it, use a flat head.. if youre building a late 50s show rod, put a nailhead, or a early chev V8, etc.
Use old parts on the 32, inside and out, and it won't matter what type of motor, if it also has the old parts. People seek out these types of builds, when they are at a show. Sounds like you want a Chevy? The stuff I look at on an early one, are the head casting marks, the style and age of the intake manifold, and the type of exhaust manifolds, front crank pulley. 265 manifolds are pretty cool to me.
You ask about a 283, in the fifties it was the traditional engine. Everybody wanted a 283 in any kind of an old car. Simple and easy. Speed shops were built on selling adaptors.
If you have the coin, look for a Packard V8.... They're kool and different and dominated a lot of the strips in the late 50s. You could probably build ten sbc's for the price though.
On this Forum ......Pre 64 is the order of the day.....and if your interested in Chevy V8's.....here are a few........ http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/album.php?albumid=8196
Is it only pre-64 or is 64 included? The 289 in my 56 F100 is a 64 from a Fairlane. Is that considered traditional? Though, it does have some parts on it that were not available back in 64.
it's traditional styled pre '64 CARS is what the rules say, so really a 64 cutoff on engines is impractical because most 60's cars didnt get rodded until a couple years after they were made, for example, my 69 302 chevy clone in my '64 el camino in atleast my opinion atleast should fit the bill of traditional
Not really needing to have a chevy v8 its just what I know a little about and thought they would be the easiest to find. I really like some of the other engines but wouldn't have a glue about them or where to find any of them. The hemis look cool , but like I said I don't have clue about them.
Pump-in-head flathead V8 with Babbitt bearings or a flathead four banger. Engine swaps are for cheaters. -Dave
How about look at a LOT of old rod pics from the late 50s early 60s and see what they were running? You'd find all of the above and a lot more. Look at all the different answers already.... Whose blessing are you trying to get?
Kinda forgotten these days but in the '50's the early Olds was very popular. In my opinion when dressed up they are a very attractive engine. They make great torque and although other engines have had much more developement they were in their era a very powerfull engine (Ak Miller used one in the "Caballo De Hierro", his famous Carrera Panamericana roadster).
Only the older guys who had a steady job down at the gas station could afford the caddy engines since they cost $150. We had to make do with '49/'50 Olds which were $50 at the junk yard (maybe with a spun bearing, maybe not).
It depends upon what era you are doing your build to. 30's would be bangers, 40's flatheads, early 50's still flatheads, but overheads were taking over, late 50's overheads, 265 & 283's chevy's still some flatheads around.